[[quoteright:350:[[Manga/{{Bleach}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Quincy__Bleach_small_1259.jpg]]]][[caption-width-right:350:Their name means "destroyer" for a reason.]]%%%% Please check the main article for references to the page image before switching it out.%%

Sometimes, archers in fantasy settings come across these peculiar weapons: Energy Bows, literally bows and crossbows without the pesky need for arrows.

Though these weapons may impart some magical advantage such as BottomlessMagazines (in the context of being able to shoot continuously with no reloading), they will still need to be operated in the same fashion as a mundane bow would, including nocking. This is despite the fact that they may lack critical parts of a mundane bow (like the string) and their projectiles may [[NoArcInArchery not be subject to forces like gravity or wind, making it more awkward for a trained archer to operate]].

An Energy Bow comes in two main flavors:

One, it is a solid bow that does not fire mundane arrows, but fire some sort of energy-based beam or projectile instead. These kind of energy bows are more common, and may or may not double as melee weapons.

Two, the bow itself is made of energy, HardLight usually but there are also cases of bows made of fire and other usually-formless materials. They may or may not shoot arrows made from the materials they are made of.

Sometimes Energy Bows pop up in SuperSentai shows as the [[GuysSmashGirlsShoot weapon]] of TheChick or LadyOfWar.

May overlap with AbnormalAmmo, SpontaneousWeaponCreation, SacredBowAndArrows, and with InvisibleBowstring.

Subtrope of EnergyWeapon -- see also PureEnergy, FlamingSword and LaserBlade.

----!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': [[ArcherArchetype Quincies]] (see page image) are a clan of human magic users who can manifest bows and arrows made from spiritual energy. Some use HardLight bows ([[AloofAlly Uryuu]]'s initial preference) and others use bows of such concentrated energy that they appear completely solid (his father [[HeroicNeutral Ryuuken]]'s preference). Quincies traditionally prefer bows to distinguish themselves from the sword-wielding {{Shinigami}}, but they do have the ability to create a wide range of EnergyWeapons that defy the expectations of reality: for example, Quincies that prefer swords can still fire arrows from the blades, and Ryuuken is capable of using his bow ''one-handed''.* Ikaros' Apollon, from ''Manga/HeavensLostProperty''.** [[spoiler: Chaos later manages to get one as well.]]* Angewomon from ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}''.* Gan Deeva, from ''Anime/EarthMaidenArjuna''.* ''Franchise/SailorMoon'': Sailor Mars's Flame Sniper shoots some sort of red/orange energy. The bow itself appears during the casting of the spell and is made of fire.* One briefly appears in ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'', used by the Rising Gundam along with, curiously, a solid-bladed naginata.* Siestas from ''UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'' had bows, that fired golden threads, that pierce and destroy everything with unimaginable precision.* [[LadyOfWar Signum]]'s most powerful attack in the ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' series is [[GratuitousGerman Sturmfalke]], an energy projectile launched from her Device Laevatein when it assumes its rare bow form. This attack is a ShoutOut to SRW's Phantom Phoenix, just as Signum herself is an {{Expy}} of Lamia Loveless.* ''RahXephon'': The titular mecha has this technique. The bow itself is made of white energy while the arrow is blood red and capable of firing into orbit. The first time it's used this way, it's a visual ShoutOut to ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''.* ''{{Reideen}}'', which is probably the TropeCodifier.* In ''{{Slayers}} TRY'', one of the Dark Star weapons was a bow, compared to the other four which are magical {{Laser Blade}}s of some kind. The bow is also the most powerful of the five.* In ''[[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica]]'', this is Madoka's weapon if she becomes a MagicalGirl - [[spoiler: and in every previous timeline where she did. In the "final" timeline, Homura trades in her guns for a bow of her own.]]* Belldandy's angel, Holy Bell, in ''Manga/AhMyGoddess'', makes hers from [[BlowYouAway Wind energy]].* Suzaku from ''YuYuHakusho'', and his Prism Storm of Torment/Dark Lightning Shockwave technique, which shoots seven arrows composed of lightning. A single arrow causes the entire body to course with electricity, making it fatal to normal humans.* Yue from ''Manga/CardCaptorSakura'' has one of these. Unfortunately, it only appears once.* Both Perseus and Liliana use one in ''{{LightNovel/Campione}}''.* In ''Franchise/{{Naruto}}'', this is the main weapon of Sasuke's [[GuardianEntity Susano]], firing huge purple arrows of semi-solid chakra. Once he [[spoiler:upgrades to the Eternal Mangekyo]], he gains the ability to shoot arrows made of [[{{Hellfire}} Amaterasu fire]].* In ''LightNovel/UnlimitedFafnir'', Mitsuki uses one in battle against the dragons.[[/folder]]

[[folder: Comic Books]]* Minor superheroine Maya in TheDCU wields a Type 2.* In the second main volume of ''ComicBook/YoungAvengers'', Kate / Hawkeye picks up a "Kree composite soul bow" from Marvel Boy. He considers it outdated, she thinks it's "[[ElegantWeaponForAMoreCivilizedAge vintage]]."[[/folder]]

[[folder: Fan Fiction]]* ''FanFic/RosarioVampireBrightestDarkness'' has this in the Artimus Arrow spell, which Astreal Ezrana learns in Act VI. It's also a cause of AwesomeButImpractical: the arrow is powerful enough to [[OneHitKill one-shot]] a NighInvulnerable ''rylo'' demon, but draws so much power from the magical ether that, according to Yukari and Ruby, if they even tried to hold it, the power behind it would cause their bodies to literally ''explode''.[[/folder]]

[[folder: Films]]* Chewbacca's preferred gun in ''Film/StarWars'' is a laser crossbow. EU and other sources call the weapon "Wookie bowcasters". According to [[AllThereInTheManual the manual]], the energy blasts have a solid metal core to increase kinetic energy, and enable ricochet, scattershot, and poison ammo, while still having the energy damage of a blaster.* In ''{{Film/Immortals}}'', the Epirus Bow is this. It creates infinite magical arrows anytime the string is pulled back, and can decimate both men and rocky walls. Both the hero and the villain for some reason only use the bow a few times each, despite its obvious potential for destruction.[[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature]]* The book ''Echoes of the Great Song'' by Creator/DavidGemmell has Zhi-Bows.[[/folder]]

[[folder: LiveActionTelevision]]* [[TheChick Deirdre]] from ''Series/TheMysticKnightsOfTirNaNog'' had a crossbow that fired bolts of air (but the special effects made it resemble an energy weapon of some sort).* The Pink Ranger's Power Bow sometimes fired arrows charged with pink energy in ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers''.** In ''Series/PowerRangersZeo'' Princess Archerina of the Machine Empire (by marriage) fired energy arrows out of her {{Sword|Beam}}. ** In ''PowerRangersInSpace,'' Psycho Pink shot energy arrows. They'd become physical arrows (with the same punch) during ''PowerRangersLostGalaxy.''* The Riders who use a Genesis Driver in ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'' use the Sonic Arrow as their primary weapon: a bow that uses a spring-loaded lever in place of an actual arrow, and fires energy arrows. It also has blades on the limbs of the bow, allowing it to be used as a melee weapon.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: TabletopGames]]* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' has a lot of these:** Brilliant Energy weapon improvement from ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' 3.5, which can be applied for arrows and other munitions.** ''Deities and Demigods Cyclopedia'':*** NativeAmericanMythology (Hastsezini the fire god has a bow that shoots a shaft of fire; Heng the thunder spirit has a bow that shoots lightning bolts for 30 miles)*** Myth/HinduMythology (Indra has Vajra, a bow made of rainbows that shoots lightning bolts)** ''Gods, Demi-gods and Heroes''*** NorseMythology (Valis has a shortbow that can fire arrows of lightning)** ''Legends and Lore''*** Myth/HinduMythology (Brihaspati's bow fires arrows of brilliant light that blind the target)** ''The Horde Campaign Set has the Iron Bow of Gesen, which can fire a lightning bolt three times per day.** ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'' #127 has the Phantom Bow, which can fire "shimmering arrows" that vanish if they miss.** On article on the WotC ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' site presented weapons from the ''WesternAnimation/DungeonsAndDragons'' cartoon including Hank's energy bow "Heatseeker".** The "Force" enhancement from Magic Item Compendium causes any ranged weapon requiring ammo to deal force damage rather than the normal physical damage done by the weapon.** Finally, the [[LaserBlade Soulknife]] class has a PrestigeClass that changes its psionic knife to a psionic bow, in accordance to the second version of this trope. Like everything else about the Soulknife, [[AwesomeButImpractical it sounds a lot cooler than it actually is, given its stats on paper]].* The Solar ''{{TabletopGame/Exalted}}'' have Charms that allow them to shape arrows, and eventually bows, out of Essence.* MagicTheGathering: Ravnica's [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Discussion.aspx?multiverseid=96863 Silhana Starfletcher]] is one of the first varieties.* The [[PraetorianGuard Maiden Guard]] in the 8th edition of ''{{Warhammer}}'' have glowing bows that fire more powerful arrows than normal bows. [[/folder]]

[[folder: VideoGames]]* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' has, among others, [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAdvance Phantom Phoenix]] (Angelg's strongest attack) and one of [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsJudgment Bellzelute's]] attacks. Some other robots (original or not) has them as well.* Pit's bow in ''SuperSmashBros Brawl''.** Not to mention all of the bow-type weapons he can use in ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising''; though this is a more borderline example given that these bows don't need to be nocked.* Nightwolf from ''MortalKombat'' can use [[MagicalNativeAmerican his magic]] to conjure up an ephemeral bow that fires spiritual arrows.* Some of the attacks of Emilio in the game ''PsychicForce'' have him fire arrows of light.* Several of the [[SummonMagic summons]] in ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' attack enemies with these.* The Short Bow of Gesen in ''BaldursGate II'' shoots small lightning bolts and doesn't need any ammo.* The Crystal bow in ''{{RuneScape}}'', made out of elven crystal, has well over two thousand inherent charges, each of which creates one glowing green energy arrow. It's not a truly popular weapon, though, as it grows weaker the less charges are remaining, and each one is one-use, as opposed to conventional ammunition. This, and the bow turns into a small piece of crystal once the charges are depleted, and the recharge itself is highly expensive (almost a million ingame coins at first, the cost comes down to a fifth of the original as the bow attunes itself to you, though).** Another, and more reliable in stats, is the Zaryte Bow, which is energy arrow type. At a [[AdamSmithHatesYourGuts cost of 80 million coins and expensive repairs here and there]], this bow rivals that of the strongest crossbow, and packs quite a punch.* Rising Sun Archer Maidens in ''Uprising'', the expansion to ''CommandAndConquerRedAlert 3'', seem to use energy bows of some sort. They're physical bows, but they [[PowerGlows glow at the ends]] and the arrows they shoot glow too and are effective against ''tanks''.* The attack, Shining Shot, from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'' and ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX'' is a powerful bow technique that fires a [[HolyHandGrenade burst of light]] arrows at enemies.* The Ethereal Crossbow from ''{{Heretic}}'' fires crossbow bolts of green magical energy in a burst, being the [[StandardFPSGuns equivalent of Doom's shotgun]] in that game.* Lenneth's bow attacks in ''ValkyrieProfile'' are composed of some kind of energy, setting her apart from the other archers in the game. Likewise when she appears in ''VideoGame/RadiataStories''.** Most of the Archer attacks in ''ValkyrieProfileSilmeria'' manifest in this way. Incidentally, archers in this game were considered very powerful.* The Amazon's Magic Arrow skill in ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}} II'' fires a bolt of mana that replaces the need for arrow quivers and does extra damage. A few unique bows have the special property "Fires level X Magic Arrow", meaning they shoot Magic Arrows as the basic attack and can be used with Strafe or Multishot.* The Legendary Bow Thori'dal: The Stars Fury from the Sunwell in ''VideoGame/{{World of Warcraft}}'' generates magical arrows when the bowstring is drawn. It was more impressive back when you needed ammo to fire a ranged weapon, but the bow still has a unique firing animation.* ''VideoGame/MightAndMagic VI'' and ''VII'', at least, have artifact bows that do this. The bow itself is perfectly real and substantial, but the missiles are ice or lightning spontaneously generated when the (unloaded) bow is fired. Additionally, a bow with the "Of Carnage" enchantment inflicts no extra damage, but the missile explodes on impact with a small but useful blast radius (which confusingly does not count as magic damage for those creatures immune to normal weapons).* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'', Aqua's Keyblade Glider is also a ''giant'' bow that fires energy arrows. Sadly, as cool as her bow is, it is only able to be used in two areas of the game. In the same game, Braig's "arrowgun" appears to be an energy crossbow.* In ''Videogame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', there's the adept level spell "Bound Bow", which summons a nifty looking purple flame [[InfinityPlusOneSword Daedric]] bow, and 100 Daedric arrows for 120 seconds. * After his first trip to the afterlife, Tommy in ''{{VideoGame/Prey}}'' can summon a spirit bow. During the resurrection sequences after death, you even use the bow to shoot flying creatures to determine how much health and mana you spawn with.* The Talon Engineer in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' Multiplayer uses this as his main weapon, known as the Omni-Bow. It can fire five arrows at once, either in a fanning formation, or in a straight line that homes in on enemies. Not only that, but he can also fire Concussion Arrows, which blows enemies off their feet, or Armor-Piercing Arrows, which do massive damage against protected enemies.* In ''VideoGame/GodOfWar II'', Kratos gets Typhon's Bane, a bow that shoots [[BlowYouAway gusts of wind]] instead of arrows. In ''III'' this is replaced with the very similar Bow of Apollo, that shoots [[PlayingWithFire arrows of fire]] instead. Bow of Apollo looks pretty much like any other bow, whereas all the parts of Typhon's Bane except the grip are made of a sort of gas-like substance.* Magic bows in ''VideoGame/DragonsDogma'' are an example of the solid type. They're nifty weapons that at first look like an elaborate set of stringless limbs. When 'nocked' however, they form a bolt of magical energy that can lock onto, and home in on targets.* Serah's Bowsword in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'' is a variation of the concept. The arrows fired by the bow are actual physical, and oddly crystalline, arrows, but they don't actually exist until after Serah has loosed one.* Ezreal in ''Videogame/LeagueOfLegends'' fires blasts of light from a bow which emerges from a gauntlet on his left hand. Usually the bow is small and only seen for a fraction of a second, but when he channels to summon his ultimate attack, the thing is enormous.* In ''Videogame/DarkSoulsII'' the Bow of Want [[spoiler:crafted from Nashandra's soul]] has a special attack that fires lightning without using any arrows.* Clerics from ''VideoGame/PerfectWorld'' have Plume Shot as their starting attack skill, which looks like a bow and arrow made out of purplish-white energy, and deals physical damage while using the magic attack stat.* Takumi, one of the main character's siblings and an archer from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', wields the Wind God Bow, which looks like it has a bowstring infused with divine energy.* The Pulse Bow in "VideoGame/Terraria" changes any arrows it uses into energy bolts that can ricochet and pierce through enemies.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]* ''Webcomic/WaywardSons'': Ipalyo's custom weapon. Stored in HammerSpace, and uses his ForceField powers to form arrows.[[/folder]]

[[folder:WebOriginal]]* [[SCPFoundation SCP]]-154 is a pair of bracelets that creates one of these. the arrows however are the ''[[BallisticBone bones of the arm]]''.[[/folder]]

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]* ''WesternAnimation/DungeonsAndDragons'': Hank the Ranger's weapon "Heatseeker" was an energy bow.* Opal in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' is a fusion gem that fuses the weapons of the two gems she's made of, [[spoiler:Amethyst and Pearl]], into an Type 1 bow which shoots magic arrows.* The [[FantasyCounterpartCulture Native Martians]] from ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' use bows with energy arrows.* Rodimus Prime uses a bow in his ''TransformersAnimated'' incarnation. The string and the ''two'' arrows it fires at once are made of orange energy. Mostly, this homages/parodies ComicBook/Hawkeye, whom Rodimus has always resembled; this version's resemblance to him is greatly increased and he carries [[TheArcher the same signature weapon]].* [[ActionGirl Allura's]] Voltcom weapon in ''VoltronForce''. The [[CombiningMecha Blue Center]] [[HumongousMecha Voltron]] formed by her lion gets [[ProngsOfPoseidon the Titanic Trident]], with [[AnIcePerson freezing powers]] instead.* Evangelyne from ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'', as well as other Cra people, have bows that can shoot energy arrows which cause a variety of magical effects.* ''StarWarsTheCloneWars'': It's the Nightsisters' WeaponOfChoice, explained as having plasma based arrows and a plasma bowstring with a grip at the center, since the string is deadly on its own.* Sky from ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' wields one on Eraklyon when he's [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwashed]] by Diaspro.[[/folder]]